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06/15/2011

New assistant commandant takes command of the 517th Training Group

Lt. Col. Laura M. Ryan assumed command of the 517th Training Group, and the responsibilities of the assistant commandant, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, from Col. William T. Bare on June 9, 2011 at the Presidio of Monterey.

Bare is slotted to be a congressional liaison for United States Cyber Command in Ft. Meade, Maryland.

The event was presided over by Col. Thomas W. Geary, Commander, 17th Training Wing, who referred to the ceremony as “a momentous occasion.”

“Col. Bare has been an outstanding commander. You touched the lives of so many out here. You have had a true and lasting impact on the training of professional linguists… you will truly be missed by the 517th and the Monterey community,” said Geary.

Bare was also praised by Geary for his efforts as the first group commander of the newly created 517th Training Group at DLIFLC, which was stood up in May of 2009. “Being the very first group commander of a training group, and bringing it to reality in 2009, you have been the best advocate of the Airmen here.”

Ryan comes to DLIFLC from her position as deputy chief, Joint Concept Development and Experimentation Division, Directorate for Joint Force Development, J-7, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, DC.

“Thanks for your support and I look forward to working with you,” said Ryan.

Bare spoke of his time working with the people at DLIFLC saying, “Thank you all for three years of professional dedication…and to use my favorite quote – I would rather restrain stallions than push mules – you have been stallions.”